Post by dex on Feb 6, 2018 9:48:30 GMT -5
PROVIDENCE — When last in the comfy confines of the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, Providence College was on a roll and the Patriots weren’t even AFC champions yet.
Two and a half weeks later, the Friars are still feeling good about themselves. The same can’t be said for the Patriots.
Providence returns to The Dunk on Tuesday night for the first time since taking care of Creighton on Jan. 20 when the Friars entertain Patrick Ewing and Georgetown. The good news is Ewing will be coaching — and not playing — for the Hoyas. The former All-American center beat the Friars nine of 10 times in his fabulous career as a player from 1981-85.
After winning a fourth straight game with a 14-point victory over Creighton, the Friars began a season-long, three-game road swing. That the trip swung through three of the tougher stops in the Big East did not go unnoticed by coach Ed Cooley or his players.
Things didn’t go well early. At top-ranked Villanova, the Friars were overwhelmed by a potential Final Four team and lost, 89-69. A week later at Seton Hall, the team’s most important seniors didn’t show up and PC was knocked around badly, 73-57.
The good news is the trip was saved on Saturday afternoon at Marquette. PC won for the second year in a row in Milwaukee, 77-75. This time around Kyron Cartwright, Jalen Lindsey and Rodney Bullock all played solidly. Alpha Diallo continued his strong season and Isaiah Jackson continues to show he is one of the Big East’s top bench players.
The Marquette win jumped the Friars into the top 30 of the Ratings Percentage Index. That’s what a road victory can do and PC was also boosted by wins by St. John’s (over Duke) and Washington (Arizona), two teams it has victories over.
The Friars (15-8) have eight games left in the regular season and, at 6-4, are on target to reach Cooley’s yearly goal of at least 10 Big East wins. PC has five of the eight at home. Tuesday night’s game begins a critical three-game home-stand that includes a date against DePaul on Saturday and a rematch vs. Villanova next Wednesday.
Georgetown (13-9, 3-8) is struggling but, like all of the Big East’s second-division teams, remains dangerous. That fact was driven home on Saturday. A few hours after St. John’s (0-11 Big East) upset Duke at Madison Square Garden, Ewing’s Hoyas had No. 6 Xavier pressed up against the ropes in Cincinnati. In the final minute a foul was called while Musketeers star Trevon Bluiett was making a tough 3-point shot. The resulting four-point play forced overtime and the home team squeaked out a 96-91 victory.
Georgetown’s offense remains strong and the Hoyas have size up front in Jessie Govan and Marcus Derrickson. A lack of consistent backcourt play — a bugaboo that’s haunted the Hoyas for a few years — has prevented Ewing from enjoying a more successful rookie season as coach. Georgetown has also lost in double overtime to Butler and at the buzzer to DePaul
Two and a half weeks later, the Friars are still feeling good about themselves. The same can’t be said for the Patriots.
Providence returns to The Dunk on Tuesday night for the first time since taking care of Creighton on Jan. 20 when the Friars entertain Patrick Ewing and Georgetown. The good news is Ewing will be coaching — and not playing — for the Hoyas. The former All-American center beat the Friars nine of 10 times in his fabulous career as a player from 1981-85.
After winning a fourth straight game with a 14-point victory over Creighton, the Friars began a season-long, three-game road swing. That the trip swung through three of the tougher stops in the Big East did not go unnoticed by coach Ed Cooley or his players.
Things didn’t go well early. At top-ranked Villanova, the Friars were overwhelmed by a potential Final Four team and lost, 89-69. A week later at Seton Hall, the team’s most important seniors didn’t show up and PC was knocked around badly, 73-57.
The good news is the trip was saved on Saturday afternoon at Marquette. PC won for the second year in a row in Milwaukee, 77-75. This time around Kyron Cartwright, Jalen Lindsey and Rodney Bullock all played solidly. Alpha Diallo continued his strong season and Isaiah Jackson continues to show he is one of the Big East’s top bench players.
The Marquette win jumped the Friars into the top 30 of the Ratings Percentage Index. That’s what a road victory can do and PC was also boosted by wins by St. John’s (over Duke) and Washington (Arizona), two teams it has victories over.
The Friars (15-8) have eight games left in the regular season and, at 6-4, are on target to reach Cooley’s yearly goal of at least 10 Big East wins. PC has five of the eight at home. Tuesday night’s game begins a critical three-game home-stand that includes a date against DePaul on Saturday and a rematch vs. Villanova next Wednesday.
Georgetown (13-9, 3-8) is struggling but, like all of the Big East’s second-division teams, remains dangerous. That fact was driven home on Saturday. A few hours after St. John’s (0-11 Big East) upset Duke at Madison Square Garden, Ewing’s Hoyas had No. 6 Xavier pressed up against the ropes in Cincinnati. In the final minute a foul was called while Musketeers star Trevon Bluiett was making a tough 3-point shot. The resulting four-point play forced overtime and the home team squeaked out a 96-91 victory.
Georgetown’s offense remains strong and the Hoyas have size up front in Jessie Govan and Marcus Derrickson. A lack of consistent backcourt play — a bugaboo that’s haunted the Hoyas for a few years — has prevented Ewing from enjoying a more successful rookie season as coach. Georgetown has also lost in double overtime to Butler and at the buzzer to DePaul
